Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year
We cannot wait for the 2023-2024 school year! Our students are the heart of our school and we are eager to have them fill our classrooms!
 
We have been busy preparing for students' return in August. Gold Rush used school funds obtained through consistent enrollment to sod the front field. The healthy grass on our front play area looks amazing! We also completed renovations on the back playground, which included a shade structure with sails, a turfed soccer field and landscaping. 
This summer new playground equipment was also installed on the front playground. Gold Rush families and the PTO funded these additions through the Digger Dash. We know that students will enjoy these renovations when we return.
Below are additional details regarding the beginning of the school year. We are looking forward to a great year!
BEGINNING OF THE YEAR REGISTRATION
ONLINE EXPRESS CHECK- IN
July 20 - August 4
All students must register for the upcoming school year using Online Express Check-In between Thursday, July 20th, through Friday, August 4th. Click here to login.
You will use Online Express Check-In to update your contact information, pay school fees and sign up for volunteer opportunities. You can also order a yearbook through the optional fees in Express Check-In.
Please note that the Emergency Dismissal form must be printed and turned in to your teacher during Meet Your Teacher (Grades 1-5), Balanced Beginnings (Kindergarten) or the first day of school. For assistance please contact one of the individuals below:
 
Shala Goehl - GRE Registrar
303-387-7707
Anita Rudman - GRE Administrative Assistant
303-387-7704
TEACHER ASSIGNMENTS
Thursday, July 20
We know that your child is eager to know who his/her classroom teacher will be. Starting July 20th you can view your child's teacher assignment in Parent Portal. Click the schedule tab and then select your child in the upper right corner. You can look forward to receiving a welcome letter from your child’s teacher via email by Friday, July 28.
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL - GRADES 1-5
MEET YOUR TEACHER & PICTURE DAY (GRADES 1-5)
Monday, August 7

8:30-8:45
8:50-9:05
9:10-9:25
9:30-9:45
9:50-10:05
10:10-10:25
10:30-10:45
We believe that it is important for students to have the opportunity to meet their teacher and visit their classroom prior to the first day of school. Families are welcome to visit their classroom on Monday, August 7th, and drop off school supplies.  Students will take their school picture in the gym after they visit their classroom.
We want to ensure that families are able to spend time with the teacher in a small group setting, so we ask that parents sign up for one of the time slots shown above. Click here for our online scheduler which opens July 20th and closes July 28th. The password is digger. The sign up is first come first serve, so please sign up as soon as possible if you have a preferred time or you wish to align siblings’ times. School supplies ordered through the PTO will be delivered to your child’s classroom. Click here for a map of teachers’ classrooms.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL & FLAG CEREMONY (GRADES 1-5)
Tuesday, August 8
The first full day of school for students in grades 1-5 is Tuesday, August 8th. Students will meet their teachers on the front blacktop on the first day of school for an opening flag ceremony that begins at 8:30 AM. Click here for a map of your classroom location for our opening ceremony. All teachers will have a sign with their name on it. Students will walk into school with their teacher at the end of the ceremony.
ROLLING START (GRADES 1-5)
Wednesday, August 9
Our rolling start ensures a smooth start to the day. On the second day of school first through fifth graders will enter the building at their assigned locations between 8:20 AM-8:30 AM and walk directly to their classrooms. These locations differ from where students met for the opening Flag Ceremony. Click here for classroom arrival locations. Teachers and older students will be available to assist younger students. Parents of preschool students need to walk their children through the preschool playground to the preschool door and sign their child in. 
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL - KINDERGARTEN
BALANCED BEGINNINGS & PICTURE DAY (KINDERGARTEN)
Kindergarten students have a transitional start to the school year referred to by the District as Balanced Beginnings. Kindergarten students will meet with a small group of students on August 8th, 9th or 10th for two hours. Parents will drop their child off at their classroom's exterior door. Mrs. Harrison and Ms. Andersen will meet their classes outside the lower exterior door between the main office and the bus loop.
Students will get to know classmates and partake in engaging activities. Classroom teachers will help students make connections while learning students' individual social, emotional and academic strengths and needs.  Students will take their picture with their parents between 11:00 AM-12:45 PM on their selected day.
Parents will need to click here to sign up for Balanced Beginnings starting July 20th. Times are designated on a first come first serve basis.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL (KINDERGARTEN)
Kindergarten students’ first full day of school is Friday, August 11th. A staff member will meet students at their classroom's exterior door between 8:20-8:35 AM. Kindergarten parents are invited to a Tears and Cheers Breakfast in our cafeteria at 8:45 AM on August 11th.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT (K-5)
August 23 @ 4:30-5:00 or 5:10-5:40
Classroom teachers will provide parents with an overview of the school year on Wednesday, August 23rd, during the following two Back to School Night sessions: 4:30-5:00 PM or 5:10-5:40 PM. The principal will share school celebrations, upcoming goals and important community information in the gym from 4:15-4:30 PM. We hope you will join us for these informative sessions.
AUGUST 2024
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL
Arrival Map
ARRIVAL
Gold Rush has had tremendous success with our rolling start! If you are returning to Gold Rush, you are aware that all students enter the building between 8:20-8:30 AM and head directly to their classroom. Grade levels/classrooms are assigned a specific entrance and all entrances are monitored at 8:20 AM by GRE staff.   
Classroom teachers will show students how to enter the building and proceed to their classroom on the first day of school. Additional adults will support students during the first week of school.
It is imperative that students are not dropped off prior to 8:20 AM unless they have a previously scheduled meeting or activity as supervision is not available.
DISMISSAL
We also had great success with our staggered dismissal times for primary and intermediate students. Please see GRE’s dismissal schedule below.
3:20 PM
Kindergarten
3:25 PM
First & Second Grade
 
3:30 PM
Third Through Fifth Grade
**Rolling carloop begins
At 3:20PM kindergarten students will be dismissed at their exterior doors or identified arrival location. At 3:25PM first and second grade teachers will walk students out the front door and wait until all students have been picked up. K-2 teachers will meet at the same place students lined up during arrival (see map above). At 3:30PM 3-5 teachers will walk students out of the front entrance of the building. Third graders will be dismissed out the front doors and fourth and fifth graders will exit through the back of the building.
Parents can park and meet their child at their teacher's identified location or use the rolling carloop. The rolling car pick up will start for all students at 3:30 PM. Parents cannot park in the loop or an unmarked parking spot at any time. We appreciate your cooperation!
Click here to preorder school pictures
Picture Day ID  XHCKWQTVE
SCHOOL SUPPLY LISTS
Click here for grade level supply lists
Be a part of our amazing GRE team! We are still looking for Educational Assistants. Educational Assistants support grade levels, teachers and individual students throughout the school day. If you, or anyone you know, is interested please reach out to the school office at 303-387-7700.

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In compliance with Titles VI & VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, the Douglas County School District RE-1 does not unlawfully discriminate against otherwise qualified students, employees, applicants for employment, or members of the public on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry, or need for special education services. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, genetic information, and conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth is also prohibited in accordance with state and/or federal law. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public. The School District's Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator to address complaints alleging sexual harassment under Title IX is Aaron Henderson, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0127.

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, gender), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 510, Denver, CO 80202, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 1050, Denver, CO 80202.

NOTICE OF DESTRUCTION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION RECORDS

Special Education records which have been collected by Douglas County School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for the period of five (5) years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student is no longer eligible for services, graduates, or completes his/her educational program at age 21, or moves from the district. This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of Douglas County School District's intent to destroy the special education records of students who exited special education services as of June 30, 2016. These records will be destroyed in accordance with state law unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise. After five years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, rehabilitation services, college entrance, etc. The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records by requesting the records at this link ( Douglas County School District Transcripts and Records Requests ).